Age 3
Drum and percussion lessons for kids in Springfield, MO
Yes, children play drums and percussion in every class at Children's Music Academy. We teach rhythm to children ages 3 to 9 inside a weekly music class you attend with your child: rhythm sticks, hand drums, shakers and a range of percussion from the first week, beside keyboard, singing and reading. Rhythm is where a 3 year old's music begins.
- Ages 3 to 9
- percussion in every class
- about an hour, once a week
- parent in the room
- 5335 S Campbell Ave
How CMA teaches drums and percussion
The first thing a child learns in music is a steady beat, and the fastest way to learn it is to play it. From the first Pre-Junior class your child keeps time with sticks, drums and shakers, moves to the beat, and plays rhythm patterns with the group. Reading rhythm, quarter notes, half notes and rests, is learned on percussion before it is learned anywhere else, which is why CMA children read rhythm so easily at the keyboard later.
Over the course your child plays a range of percussion instruments, plays rhythm parts in the class ensemble, and learns to hold a part while the group plays another. A child who wants a drum kit later starts with a trained sense of time, which is the thing drum teachers find hardest to teach.
Why drums are part of everything at CMA
Rhythm first
Every instrument needs time. Children who can keep a beat and read rhythm learn keyboard, guitar and singing faster. Percussion is where it starts.
Everyone can play on day one
A 3 year old can play rhythm sticks in the first five minutes. Early success is what keeps a young child coming back.
Playing together
Percussion is how the class first plays as an ensemble, each child holding a part, listening to the others. Music as something you do with people.
Which class is your child's age?
Pre-K and kindergarten
Junior
See Junior1st and 2nd grade
Intermediate
See IntermediateHomeschool families
Homeschool music class
See the homeschool class“This is a great music program allowing us to introduce music to our son. The teachers are wonderful and the classroom interaction with other students adds to the fun!”
“At one time, we had 3 students at a time taking classes on the same day. We now have in our family a very accomplished pianist, an accomplished guitarist, a bass player and drummer, and our newest graduate will also take up the guitar.”
Questions about drums at CMA
Do you offer private drum lessons or drum kit lessons?
Every class at CMA is a group class with a parent in the room. Private one to one lessons, adult lessons and in home lessons are outside what we offer. Children at CMA play hand percussion and a range of rhythm instruments as part of the whole curriculum, and the trained sense of time they leave with is the best start a future drummer can have.
Can we do this at home?
Yes. A pair of rhythm sticks, or two wooden spoons, is all a child needs to practice the week's rhythm.
Is it loud?
It is a music class for young children, so there is joyful noise, and it is organized noise. Parents are in the room and most of them are playing too.